Month: April 2014

Jesus Is Risen!

Easter 2014 service at Pilgrim’s Anglican Church-Yumbe

On the Saturday before Easter Sam,Carol, and I left for for Yumbe. Because of the drive we chose to spend the night there instead of having to make a very early start on Sunday. Also, because we have no vehicle, we have to hire one and it is hard to get one to leave early on a Sunday morning! Pastor Charles had invited me to preach at Pilgrim’s Anglican Church. Pastor Ben’s non-denominational church also joined in the worship service.

Pastor Charles and his familyPastor Ben posing with his wife. Their young son was not present for the picture

My sermon was entitled: The Resurrection and Forgiveness of Sin (Luke 24:45-48 tied together with Matt.18:21-35). Pastor Alex did a wonderful job of interpreting the message into Aringa.

Pastor Andrew did a wonderful job of translating my English into Aringa

The crowd was large and everyone did not fit inside. A very large group of children stayed outside for Bible study and singing. With such a large group (Charles said there were 600+/- counting the children who met outside) you would never have thought we were in a community with less than 1% of its population being evangelical Christians! Of course, just as in America, I was told, many also just attend church on Christmas and Easter. Many at the end of message responded with tears, not wanting to be like the Unforgiving servant in Matthew 18.

Preaching Christ crucified and risen in Yumbe

Prayer time at the end of the service

Carol and I also had a time after the service to meet with several women who needed counsel, two of the three suffering persecution from Muslim relatives or neighbors because of their association with Christ.

Sam was outside teaching the children, “Jesus Loves Me “. They were very quick learners!

Some of the children meeting outside the church

We then had a late lunch at Pastor Charles’ home. At lunch we were told that the leaders of the church had a long meeting after the service where the men were giving and receiving forgiveness from one another. ..PTL! I have never been in a revival but, from what I have read, the early signs of revival are in Yumbe and in Obongi. I would like to go to Yumbe on a weekly basis for discipleship training for church leaders and also often on Sunday mornings. I rejoice that we have opportunities to host Yumbe leaders here at RAU. However, for healthy growth for God’s church in Yumbe, which is growing fast, there needs to be ongoing discipleship especially for church leaders. This is the main calling the Lord has given to Reaching Africa’s Unreached. Please pray for us in this privileged task to which we have been appointed!

This is the plot for sale off the main street in Yumbe. Could this be the place for a RAU branch of the Hall of Tyrannus? I pray so!

Charles and Ben have spearheaded our outreaches (evangelism,discipleship,mercy ministry) in Yumbe. They organized our Yumbe pastor’s retreat last February and are working to get 17 more to come to RAU in May for a week. They are real fine brothers in Christ!

Prayer Requests and Opportunities for Giving:

*Pastor Ben and his wife are taking the little boy who had cleft pallet surgery a little over a month ago for a followup surgery. He also taking another child to Kampala who was recently brought to our attention that has a very severe cleft pallet. The parents are also going. Lord willing, he will be able to have his first operation. Both of these children are from Yumbe. RAU is providing for all the transport costs, care in the hospital, special foods for the children before and after the operation, and all paperwork which has been required. An NGO specializing in such surgeries is taking care of the operation. RAU has been given specific funds for this. No doubt we will need additional funds for followup surgeries for the second child.

The first little boy before surgeryA picture shortly after his first operation. Pray for his upcoming second surgery.Pray with us for this child’s first operation whose cleft pallet is more severe than the first child’s.

*On Wednesday we will be in one of the ten South Sudanese refugee camps near Adjumani. We will be observing distribution by the OPM (Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister) and UN of the 4.5 +- tons of dried cassava given by RAU through your generous gifts. We are told that there are now around 100,000 in these camps. I wrote about this and included a video in my last newsletter here. “Thank you” to those who gave to help make this happen! Please continue to pray for the refugees, the war in South Sudan, and RAU’s opportunities to help feed people who, at this point, cannot provide for themselves. It is also a wonderful opportunity to proclaim the gospel in the camps and to disciple believers. By God’s grace they will be able to go back to their homes in South Sudan and take the gospel back with them!

* Next week we will have another group of pastors with us in retreat. This group is from Moyo. Pray for this time as you have in the past. May the Lord strengthen and encourage these church leaders so that they, in turn, can strengthen their congregations for growth in grace and church planting.

The Hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:10) is meant to be a place where pastors,church leaders,evangelists, and church planters are strengthened in the fundamentals of the faith so that they can go back to their congregations encouraged to equip their church members to spread the fame of King Jesus to the unreached in their areas.

*Pray with us for a vehicle. On our return from Yumbe yesterday, Sam mentioned to us, “You know, your not having a vehicle for nearly 9 months has taught you many things you never would have learned…”. Yes! However, I hope our learning in this way is soon over! We are still working on getting all our money back for ’99 Land Cruiser we never received. The Ugandan broker has now given us $4,000 of the $15,000 we had given him. The rest will be given back in installments if he does not get the money back from the Japanese dealer he worked with. Because of the immediate need, this time around, when we have money, we will trust the Lord to lead us to a suitable vehicle already in Kampala, which I hope to do after our next pastor’s retreat. Finding a strong, reliable vehicle in Kampala, preferably a Land Cruiser, will cost around $25,000. Most NGO’s, the UN, and other groups in this area use Land Cruisers. They are the first choice for very good reasons. Most importantly, pray for us in this and please consider helping if you can. Any funds we have over the cost of the vehicle (such as the remaining $11,000o being paid back to us) could be used for future discipleship ministries. Thank you!

*We are continuing to clear and plow the land to make it ready to plant crops. The rains have still not come. I am beginning to hear more often that we could be in for a drought and if that happens here there would be famine. So many survive off their gardens. Pray with us for the rains to begin.

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our names)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples!

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.

Has it already been eight and half months? Has it only been eight and a half months? Time has flown by and, yet, it seems like we have been here longer than that. I thought it would be good, especially for those who do not access Facebook, to give you a pictorial view of our lives here at RAU. I started out taking pictures with my i Pad, but during our last visit to the States I was given a wonderful camera as a gift. I hope that I am and will be doing it justice!

Jacob and I had been preparing our hearts for this momentous move for many years, but preparing to say goodbye does not mean diminishing love or the object of one’s love so that it doesn’t hurt so much.

Our loves!

Josh and Becca, Eliza and BenJosiah LeeAnna and Kenny Danley and the little one, yet unborn, who we would later come to know as Keira!Creating memoriesSaying goodbye at the airport

Is it possible to be happy and sad at the same time? Well, we were! There were tears and hugs and sad goodbyes, but there was an inner excitement in being on our way to this grand adventure to which the Lord had called us. And an adventure it has been…from the start!

Muddy road ahead!On the way to MoyoNear Murchison FallsSign post for the Nile River–you know you’re close!The bulrushes at the Nile RiverHome at last!

It wasn’t long after we reached our home in Afoji that we realized that our family was not replaced but expanded!

Adjusting to cultural differences was a challenge; however, I have to say that having grown up in India as a missionary’s kid made the transition much easier. In some ways, it was as if I were returning to my childhood home and to a landscape I knew and loved, including some foods.

Our taste buds had a new palate of foods to accommodate to, some of which were no trouble, but delight…like fresh fruit from the tree onto our table! And the wonderful benefit of our new diet?—much needed weight loss!

On to ministry! Jacob immediately started circulating to all the local churches to encourage them and let them know about RAU’s ministry plans.

Visiting a churchVisiting a local churchMeeting our Anglican brothers and sistersAnother local churchHeading home after prayers.

This church is made of bamboo walls and a tin roof and is shaded by a large mango tree.

It was at the church in the above picture that I got this beautiful shot of Jacob and the pastor’s sons. Jacob never stops being a grandpa! And kids seem to love him, too.

An Unexpected Journey

I had the privilege of accompanying Gabbie to California for heart surgery, after which I had the joy of being reunited with our family in Texas (Sadly, minus Josiah; he could not leave work so suddenly) and of meeting our newest grand baby, Keira Danley.

Unexpected JourneyCuddling the newest grand baby, KeiraKenny doing an amazing job as a first time dad!Auntie Becca!BenjaminEliza

Daddy, Mommy and Keira

I felt bad for Jacob missing out on this. He was a trooper for letting me go. It’s a good thing he was kept busy getting things ready for upcoming ministry. I did my best to send videos and pictures to keep him in the loop as much as possible.

Ministry

It wasn’t too long before RAU was able to launch its envisioned task–Pastors’ retreats and training. It was a blessing to have, as our first guest speaker, our dear friend, Ron Zeiner. Soon after, we welcomed the “Tennessee Trio”, David Jones, Michael Lambert and Eric Williams. Only a week and a half later we had the pleasure of meeting a good friend of Jacob, Kevin Turner (SWI) and his team member, Ron Day.

Leaving for Obongi; Ron and JacobVery first retreat with Ron ZeinerThe Tennessee Trio, Eric, Michael and DavidKevin Turner and Ron Day with SWI

As you can see from this last photo, we were not always serious. Each team that visited us brought with them the life of Christ displayed in a beautiful and peculiar way. Without any doubt, each one that came gave us a view of the servant-heart of Christ, not only in word, but deed as well. It was a joy to get to know them all! We are blessed!

Some of our favorite memories are the “getting-to-know-them” moments.

In Moyo town, walking around with the guys from TennesseeWhen we first started referring to the front porch as “The Internet Cafe” because that’s where the strongest signal was.Michael Lambert…hanging out!At the Ugandan/South Sudan border with the “Tennessee Trio”. Seated: David, Jacob,Officer in Charge of Afoji Border Crossing, Michael, Eric.Standing: Carol, Immigration Officer

A wild and crazy guy! Kevin Turner. Can you say, “mamba!”Interesting photo op…”how beautiful are the feet…” with Ron DayFavorite refreshment!Friends

Christmas Holidays

Christmas with our grandchildrenShowing Eliza how ladies carry babies on their backs in Africa

Josiah and Keira

Reconnecting and receiving grace through prayer from our home Church, Lifegate.

Unavoidably and Royally Detained

On our way back to Uganda after the holidays, we met with some delays, but it certainly turned out in our favor! We missed our flight from Amsterdam to Entebbe and so Delta Airlines put us up in a very, very nice hotel and gave us a meal voucher for supper and breakfast. That was a royal treat!

Back in the Saddle Again

Our friend, John Howarton; we were blessed to celebrate him on his birthday…with chocolate no-bakes!

Yumbe Pastors’ Retreat

Enjoying the bag of resources: Bible, books and other materialsHeartfelt worship

The cooks: Lucy and her sister, GraceGoody bags!

Yumbe Outreach

We (Carol and Sam) spent many hours in Kerwa clinic demonstrating Christ’s love through nursing care and dispensing medicines RAU had purchased with donations from faithful giversNurse SamJacob preaching in the marketOpen Air Preaching in Yumbe

Obongi Discipleship and Baptisms

Our beloved Godfrey, pastor of the fledgling and flourishing church in Obonge.Students of the WordBaptisms in the Nile River

It was always a treat to see some other white faces who speak American English…

Amanda Samrani, with Wings of Healing in South Sudan; pictured here with her director, Duane Jones.

Brad and Kim Campbell and two of Kim’s daughters who were in Juba when war broke out and had to flee for their lives with the orphans for whom they were caring.

Incredible Edibles?!!!

Tasty mole…or so they say!The queen of the termite mound. Good cooked or raw…Where’s the Phenergan?!Grasshopper!Rat!Fried white ants…or termites!

And then there was fox! Sorry, no picture.

Oh dear! Just thinking of eating any of these makes my stomach turn.

A Special Joy

As I mentioned earlier in the post, I received a very nice camera as a gift and it has been a very special joy to grow in my artistry with it. The following are some of my favorite pictures: of faces and places and flora and fauna. It is a very small representation of the vast quantities of photos taken and a very difficult task to pick only a few. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did hunting them down or in being at the right place at the right time with the right equipment! My favorites are of the beautiful faces and, especially the women, who work incredibly hard, not only in the field, but the home.

Baby sitterCollecting and carrying firewood.The woman on the left is pregnant.Nursing motherWeeding cassava by day, collecting wood to go home and cook…by night.I loved their hysterical laughter at being photographed!

A favorite of mine–mothers and babies

Relaxing after a hard day’s work.Jacob with Josiah, Abraham’s son.On the way back from prayers in Moyo…on a boda boda.

Comrades in Christ!My favorite modelOne of watchman John’s many crafts.John, watchman and general handyman

Favorite sunsets

Creative Ventures

I have also enjoyed another avenue of creativity and am so grateful to have some time and the inspiration to do it. I have done some painting in the past, but am doing it now with a little more regularity. It has been recreational as well as a means to raise funds for a special project–that of helping a friend here through medical school.

Beginnings

Papaya paintingRAU tukalooMangoes

Five small commissioned paintings for a friend for Christmas gifts.

Here are three paintings which have sold in fund-raising efforts. There is also one in the works.

This artistry is by no means my primary purpose here, but it has been an enjoyable and anticipated hobby. It is an opportunity to express the image of God in creating as well as a means of communicating to you in a special way our experiences.

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our names)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples!

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.

One of the Refugee camps near Adjumani. Adjumani is just across the Nile River from us.

Through the donations of several people RAU was able to purchase over 9,000 pounds of dried cassava for South Sudanese in the refugee camps near Adjumani. Because we were able to purchase the cassava here locally we eliminated a lot of transport costs and in turn could actually buy more food!

The cassava will be ground and mixed with sorghum. At this time there are around 100,000 in these camps. We are working closely with the OPM (Ugandan Office of the Prime Minister) and the United Nations (UN). Justin, a brother in Christ, who works in the camps has taken care of these important and necessary details.

These people need outside help to survive

The OPM and the UN will be the ones who actually distribute the the cassava. We will be allowed to be there when it is distributed to document that it is indeed reaching the people. Justin is currently working on an interdenominational church structure where refugees will be able to meet for worship. With Justin, we now have a place and the contacts where RAU can begin discipleship training and evangelism in the camps. Also, as more funds come in for food aid, we will be able to show the love of Christ by giving food to those who have no means themselves to obtain it. When we are in the camps I will post another report along with pictures.

Justin is coordinating efforts in the camps

Please pray with us that we can be a good ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of these South Sudanese refugee camps. Pray for South Sudan as there is still no peace!

Please also pray that we can obtain a vehicle that will make it much easier for our outreaches in these camps as well as for discipleship training in Yumbe and Obongi.

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Off to Adjumani

Please consider helping us so that we can be a part of sharing the gospel in the camps, discipling believers, and feeding the hungry. Thank you!

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our names)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples!

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.

We had the great joy of being able to host 9 pastors/church leaders from Adjumani District this week. Our group was to be 17, but 8 were hindered in various ways from coming. Travel here is very difficult as most rural pastors have to walk. RAU provided transport via bus from Adjumani to Moyo but they had difficulty making it to the bus in Adjumani by the time it left for Moyo. Lord willing we will have other opportunities to interact with those that could not make it.

2 Timothy 2:2

Having a smaller group has definite advantages. We were really able to engage with each man in a personal way with teaching and one on one fellowship. By the end of the week we had all grown close to one another. Each man received a Global Study Bible which we used in the sessions. Throughout my teaching I showed them how to properly use a study Bible. They also each received 9 books, most of which were given through the Gospel Coalition International Outreach. These books and others (around 3,500) as well as nearly 1100 Global Study Bibles arrived in the container in January.

The Hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:10) is meant to be a place where pastors,church leaders,evangelists, and church planters are strengthened in the fundamentals of the faith so that they can go back to their congregations encouraged and, in turn, encourage their church members to spread the fame of King Jesus to the unreached in their area.

Lucy and GracieCarol didn’t actually “mingle” any posho but she did serve graciously in many ways!Mindra

Sam

Fresh mango pineapple juice

Godfrey and I enjoying a late night snack of sweet potatoes and white ants (termites). The white ants are delicious!

April 29-May 2 we will have another group of pastors with us. It brings great joy to my heart and to all of us at RAU, to partner with pastors in the West Nile Region of Uganda. Our prayer is that every area without the gospel and every village/town without a church will be reached with the glorious gospel. Please continue to pray for these pastors’ retreats.

You may remember, as a result of our Yumbe outreach in mid February, we came into contact with a baby who had a cleft pallet. We were able to provide care and transport for the child and his parents first to Arua for assessment and then to Kampala for the surgery. After their arrival, an NGO took care of the surgery while RAU paid for the care in the hospital and transport back to Yumbe District. We are waiting for instructions on a followup surgery which is still needed to be done in Kampala.The parents are Muslims and have seen the love of Christ in action for their child and are very appreciative. Pray with us that the parents will put their faith and trust in the Jesus of the Bible.

Before SurgeryAfter surgery

Pastor Ben one of our cohorts in Yumbe was contacted about a second child with a severe cleft pallet . The child also resides in Yumbe District. We are still gathering information on how we could also possibly help this child. Pray with us as we seek to help the child and be a witness for Christ in the Muslim region of Yumbe. These families have no hope except for someone from outside their community showing love on their behalf.

Help us help this childPray with us as we seek to make Jesus known through the proclamation of the gospel and acts of mercy!

Below are listed the things I would ask you to pray for and consider helping us with if you are willing and able to so:

*Prayer for the pastoral retreats and funds needed for them. It costs about $1500 to host each pastors’ retreat. We are limiting the number to 18 for these retreats as we want the the teaching to be more intimate and the dialog to be easier. The world will be reached through multiplication not addition! A little over $80 per person allows pastors to stay with us for these times of encouragement and teaching. Investing in these men will reap untold eternal dividends.

* Pray for the Obongi Town Church. Please continue to pray for us to find a suitable plot of land where this church could be located along with a Obongi Branch of the Hall of Tyrannus. We currently have $3,000 that has already been given. May more come in! I would like to go there each Monday for discipling the church leaders.

*In my last newsletter I told you about a plot in Yumbe for a Hall of Tyrannus branch office there . At this point, no funds have been given for this purchase. The plot costs $6000 and it will take at least another $6000 to renovate the the structures on the plot and build a protecting perimeter wall. With the $12,000 we could have an operational Yumbe Branch of the Hall of Tyrannus for weekly discipling of pastors and leaders in Yumbe. Please consider helping us proclaim the gospel in Yumbe which has very few believers. We believe that we can best do our part in this by targeting leaders with teaching and encouragement on a weekly basis.

*We are needing to get a disk for the tractor which came in the container. This would greatly aid us in raising crops on RAU’s land. The crops could be sold to help fund the ministry. We are also looking at planting another 100 mango trees for the same purpose.

*The first ever Aringa New Testament is coming out in June. Three dollars will purchase one. We would like to purchase many of these New Testaments for our work in Yumbe District. Perhaps families might consider a loose change challenge or even a Sunday School class could do the same. The $1,500 has been provided to print and publish 20,000 Quest For Joy tracts published in Aringa for distribution in Yumbe. PTL!

* Please continue praying that at some point soon we can get the Medical Clinic and Christian School operating. With 17 acres we have the room and there are Ugandan brethren who could help facilitate the Clinic and School’s operation. I have written in the past about these great needs in this area of Africa.

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our names)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples!

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.

“…What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes….” (James 4:14). With my gray hair increasing and with more aches and pains seemly each day I realize more and more my “mist” is a lot thinner these days! When I think on this and also the fact that I must give an account of my life in Christ to my maker and redeemer ( 2 Cor. 5:10), and that His great love is given to me each and every moment, my choices for this day and my limited days (Ps. 39:4) are much much easier!

How will they hear unless someone prays for them and goes to them with the good news?

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